INTRODUCTION

Starting in Japan and the UK in the 1960’s, research into organic semiconductors has matured into a major field, namely “organic electronics”, in which organic semiconductors have been utilized commercially for light emitting diodes, photovoltaics and transistors. This field has developed in parallel with the fundamental developments of organic metals, superconductors and magnets. However, a new expansion of this field is now longed for, which exploits novel functions of organic systems.

In this project, researchers in Japan, UK, Canada and Russia have been assigned roles in “material synthesis”, “fundamental characterization”, and “device application”. By making use of the characteristic features of organic materials, such as strong electron-lattice interactions, which are usually associated with insulating properties in such materials, we will develop novel device designs and operation principles for organic electronics which benefit from these features, rather than just tolerate them.
At the same time, we will also examine the effective carrier injection to organic semiconductors and magnets through novel transistor and/or photocell designs, and develop novel molecular properties and functions. In essence, our goal is to realize a win-win situation for both molecular science and organic electronics, and in both fundamental and applied research.

Moreover, by collaborating with various talent-training and international programs driven from the Japan side, we also aim to train young researchers in molecular science and organic electronics, who also possess the ability to oversee and develop international cooperation.